Portsmouth drug raid nets four arrests for sale of heroin

By Gretyl MacalasterUnion Leader CorrespondentMay 24. 2013 2:28PMPORTSMOUTH - Four arrests were made on Friday morning during a drug raid in the Gosling Meadows neighborhood.

Two men and two women have been charged with felony sale of heroin. All charges are alleged to have occurred in the Gosling Meadows housing project. Police said because the sales occurred on a Housing Authority property, those arrested may be subject to enhanced penalties.

The sale of over one gram of heroin is subject to a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $300,000 fine.

Portsmouth detectives and members of the Seacoast Emergency Response Team executed search warrants on 25 Weald Road and 32 Gosling Road beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

Police seized property at both addresses as well as from vehicles.

Delanae Sykes, 30, of 25 Weald Road is facing two felony charges for sale of heroin; Gary Murray, 60, of 25 Weald Road, is facing one count of sale of heroin; Gregory Watson, 45, of 25 Weald Road, is facing five counts of sale of heroin, and Caroline Paradis, 43, of 32 Gosling Road is facing two counts of sale of heroin and one count of possession of a controlled drug, felony level.

Police are also looking for a Lawrence, Mass., man wanted for one count of conspiracy to sell heroin. Jonathan Barrett, 23, is described as 6'2", 180 pounds with brown hair. Police have asked anyone with information about Barrett's immediate location to contact them.

Police said Friday's warrants were a result of many months of investigation into the sale of heroin in the neighborhood.

In a press release, police said community members had complained to police about the prevalence of heroin in the neighborhood, which is filled with children and families.

Members of the Kittery, Maine Police Department and the Rockingham County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force assisted in the investigation.

All subjects are being held pending arraignment in Portsmouth Circuit Court on Tuesday morning. None of the subjects have been bailed.